Congress, the opposition party in India, says its bank accounts are frozen.
India’s main opposition party, the Congress, has claimed that its bank accounts have been frozen by the income tax (IT) department just months before the country holds general elections. This move has sparked controversy and raised concerns about democracy.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the freezing of funds, calling it an “assault on democracy.” However, the government and the IT department have not responded to these allegations.
Congress leader Ajay Maken revealed that the party had been informed two days ago that the cheques it issued were not being honored by banks. Upon investigation, it was discovered that all of the party’s accounts had been frozen. This has severely impacted the party’s ability to conduct political activities and manage its finances.
Maken explained that the funds in the party’s accounts came from online crowdfunding and membership fees, while those in its youth wing’s accounts originated from membership fees as well. Unfortunately, the freezing of these accounts has left the party unable to pay basic expenses such as electricity bills and employee salaries.
The IT department’s action was reportedly prompted by a 45-day delay in filing income tax returns for the party’s 2018-2019 finances. Additionally, the IT department has demanded that Congress pay 2.1 billion rupees ($25 million) as a recovery amount.
Congress leader Vivek Tankha has stated that the party will appeal for interim relief from the IT department’s actions in court. The court is scheduled to hear the party’s appeal on Wednesday.
Critics have accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using state machinery to target opposition leaders in the run-up to the elections. However, both Modi and the BJP have denied these allegations.
In summary, the freezing of Congress’s bank accounts by the IT department has raised serious concerns about the fairness and integrity of the electoral process in India. The timing of this action, just months before general elections, has led to accusations of political motives behind the move. The Congress party is currently seeking legal recourse to address the situation and ensure its ability to participate fully in the democratic process.